If you’re wondering how to win friends and influence people, you’re likely to avoid today’s roller coaster ride from fame to rejection…
READ JOHN 6 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
At the back of it all, I want friends. I want to be palatable – not too sweet to be thought of as sickly, and not to strong to be avoided. So, if you’re like me, prioritizing relationships above spreading the Creator God’s story, you’ll not like the roller coaster ride in today’s chapter. It takes a carpenter to stardom after He miraculously feeds 5,000+ people [v1-15] and follows it up with walking on water! [v16-21] But then it plunges into a sudden downhill rush, with a swift drop off from Jesus’ “fan club” [v66] after a hint of cannibalism! [v51-54]
The problem for me today, is that I want to be the one who feeds the 5,000 – even if I don’t get to walk on water. But I don’t want to be the one that, after explaining the deepest things of the Creator God’s MasterPlan, I end up losing everyone apart from those who had nowhere else to turn! [v68] But here’s the thing, and there seems to be no getting around it: even if I’m self-focused, and the agenda is all about preferred outcomes that benefit me, Jesus remains the only One in history who has offered the world what’s never been offered before or since…
“You don’t want to leave also, do you?” Jesus said to the twelve. But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” [v67-68]
Read More? …CLICK on “15 April – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Finding it hard to connect with your Maker? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[a]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
I’ll give thanks to You, Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works! My soul knows it very well. [Psalm 139:14]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: The People’s Republic of China[b]
Your Country: The work of Gospel Literature
Yourself: Opportunities for Sharing Christ
Your concerns for today
Surely my griefs You bore Yourself, Lord, and my sorrows You carried. You were pierced for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities. The chastening for my well-being fell upon You, and by Your wounds I’m healed. [Isaiah 53:4-5]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
Thank-you, Father God, that You rescued me from the domain of darkness, and transferred me to the Kingdom of Your beloved Son, in whom I have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. [Colossians 1:13-14]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”
It’s You, Lord, who changes the times and the epochs. You remove kings and You establish kings. You give wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. [Daniel 2:21]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[c] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: An Assured Future
Jesus said: “Very truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” [John 5:24]
[a] Matthew 6:5-15
[b] http://www.operationworld.org/country/chna/owtext.html
[c] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31